The Serbian grading system for school subjects
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The Serbian grading system in schools uses a five-point numerical scale from 1 to 5, with 5 the best grade and 1 the worst. The lowest passing grade is 2; there is no percent key. The Ministry of Education sets grading rules nationally.
This page explains how teachers can read Serbian grades and how they are set and reported, including the main school-leaving Graduation exam (Матурски испит).
It also covers teaching Serbian students online or abroad, related grading systems, and sources for verification.
Reading the Serbian scale
Serbian grades use a five-point numerical scale, with 2 as the lowest passing grade and 1 below passing. A 5 means excellent; a 2 is called satisfactory on one scale and pass on another. There is no percent key.
| Grade | Native label | Meaning | Passing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | одличан | excellent | Yes |
| 4 | врло добар | very good | Yes |
| 3 | добар | good | Yes |
| 2 | довољан | satisfactory (pass): Lowest passing numerical subject grade. | Yes |
| 1 | недовољан | unsatisfactory (fail): Below the passing grade. | No |
Grade 1 is below the passing grade.
In the remaining primary-school grades, final subject grades are numerical; first-grade subject grades are descriptive.
Legally prescribed elective subjects, religious education and civic education have descriptive final grades in primary school. (Eurydice; prosveta.gov.rs)
Compared with related systems
Serbia
4 of 5 grades pass
Albania
2 of 3 grades pass
Austria
No pass mark
Argentina
5 of 6 grades pass
Who sets Serbian grades and how they are reported
Serbian grading rules are set nationally by the Ministry of Education, which publishes assessment rules for primary and secondary schools. The School Council determines the Graduation Exam Program and its implementation details.
(prosveta.gov.rs; Eurydice) At the end of grade 8, pupils take a final exam to complete basic education; its results, together with their grade point average, are required for upper secondary school enrolment (Eurydice).
If you teach Serbian students online or abroad
Students from Serbia may bring a Dositej Obradović certificate, awarded for exceptional achievement in a compulsory subject, or a Vuk Karadžić certificate, awarded to pupils who meet the stated criteria, including a 5.00 GP.
Check which certificate the student has and record it separately from grades.
Set the scale up once in a gradebook so every report card and transcript you produce uses the same key.
Related grading systems
- Albania3-step numeric scale, 10 is best; passing grade 5
- Austria5-step numeric scale, 7 is best; passing grade No pass mark
- Argentina6-step numeric scale, 10 is best; passing grade 6 (Suficiente)
- Belarus9-step numeric scale, 10 is best; passing grade 3 (Acceptable)
- Botswana10-step grading scale, A* is best; passing grade No pass mark
- Germany6-step numeric scale, 1 is best; passing grade 4 (Ausreichend)
Sources and verification
- [1]prosveta.gov.rs. Нови правилници о оцењивању ученика у установама основног и средњег образовања и васпитања и о друштвено-корисном раду - Министарство просвете, науке и технолошког развоја. Accessed Oct 20, 2026. Official source
- [2]prosveta.gov.rs. Правилник о оцењивању. pdf. Accessed Oct 20, 2026. Official source
- [3]eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu. Assessment in general upper secondary education. Accessed Oct 20, 2026. Credential evaluator
- [4]eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu. Assessment in single-structure education. Accessed Oct 20, 2026. Credential evaluator
The facts on this page were last verified on Oct 20, 2026. Suggest a correction
Frequently asked questions
What is a passing grade in Serbia?
The lowest passing grade in Serbia is 2, called satisfactory or pass. A grade of 1 is a fail.
Do schools in Serbia use percentages for grades?
No. Serbian schools use a five-point numerical scale, and there is no percentage key for the grades.
Is a 3 a good grade in Serbia?
Yes. A 3 means “good” on Serbia’s five-point scale, where 5 is the best grade.
